question on smoke/cooking time/ftc

[zkup]

I'm planning on smoking an 8 lb butt and 8 lb brisket for Saturday.  My plan is to start friday night at 8 and smoke for 4 hours at 220 - 230 - then open the cabinet to change out the water at midnight and then just cook with no smoke at 220 - 230.  I'll change the water out from there every 4 - 6 hours (i've got a bigger bowl than the standard one that comes with the smoker).  I've got a couple of questions: 

1) how long do you think this is going to take?  16  - 18 hours?  Longer?
2) Would you add smoke at any point after the 4 hour mark?
3) If I have a long FTC period (4-5 hours), what temp would you pull each piece knowing that it will keep cooking in the cooler?

Many thanks,

Zach

[KyNola]

16-18 hours is not out of the question but you can't rely on time.  You have to go by the internal temp of the meat.  For the butt, I would go until the IT is around 195.  If you want to sliice the brisket I would probably stop at 180.  If you want to pull it, go to 195-200.  A good way to check the doneness of the brisket is to stick a fork in it and see if it twists easily.  If it does it's probably done.

I would not add smoke beyond the 4 hour mark.  Others do.  I don't find it necessary.

If you take each meat to the IT described above and you wrap the meat tightly in foil and then a towel and place in a dry cooler or microwave(don't turn it on) you can easily hold them for 4-5 hours and you will still burn your fingers when you go to pull the meat.

Hope this helps.  Others will be along shortly to assist as well.

[Ka Honu]

Nothing to add to KyNola's advice other than to say you might want to add a spritz of liquid when you wrap for FTC - or not.  Lot's of folks use apple juice for pork and beef broth for brisket but it's all a matter of your tastes.

[ghost9mm]

Yep !!! what the other 2 fellers said..to a T... :D

[SamuelG]

Just one more thing....Enjoy and post the money shot!




SamuelG

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zkup]

many thanks guys.  will repost.  was going for about those IT's but was just trying to get a handle of how many hours in advance i needed to get rolling.  Really appreciate it.